UK Considers Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Amid Gaza Crisis

The British government is weighing sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers as pressure mounts over Israel’s escalating campaign in Gaza and the deepening humanitarian catastrophe, The New York Times reported.

Sanctions under consideration would target National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom support the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza—a position deemed a grave breach of international law. Both are staunch allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and have backed the expanded military offensive that has killed hundreds of civilians in recent weeks.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy sharply condemned Smotrich’s comments about “cleansing” Gaza, calling them “extremist, dangerous, and repellent.”

Internal Debate and Diplomatic Calculations

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is deeply divided. The Foreign Office supports a more assertive approach, but 10 Downing Street remains cautious, especially after the deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington by a pro-Palestinian gunman. UK officials are also watching whether Israel eases humanitarian access to Gaza before making a final decision.

The British move would follow similar condemnation from France and Canada. The U.S. has offered little resistance, with President Trump increasingly critical of Israel’s actions and calling for a quick end to the war.

Pressure Mounts From Legal, Political Circles

More than 800 British lawyers, academics, and retired judges—including former Supreme Court justices—have signed an open letter urging sanctions, asserting that Israel is committing war crimes and meeting the threshold for genocide. They argue the limited aid allowed into Gaza is grossly insufficient and warn of an “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.”

Although Lammy stopped short of calling it genocide, some Labour MPs have vocally used the term in Parliament, intensifying demands for a decisive response.